Conclave (MA)
Directed by: Edward Berger
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow
Review by: Julian Wright
Conclave pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest, but most secretive, processes in history – finding a new Pope.
When the Pope dies in his bed, the wheels are put immediately in motion to find his replacement.
Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading the process, with candidates coming from all over the world in hopes to take the coveted spot.
There are the obvious front-runners, but as the competition heats up and the votes start rolling in, motivations are questioned, policies are feared and past indiscretions are revealed.
Conclave is a riveting drama that is handled like a slow-burn thriller, as layers are pulled away on the key characters, which raise suspicions.
Fiennes delivers a beautifully controlled performance, leading us through this fascinating, yet scandal-filled process, each twist testing the reluctant Cardinal.
Speaking of twists, the wallop delivered at the end is one for the ages, but more than simply there for shock value, it forces you to re-assess everything that has come before it and look at it through another perspective.
Just when you think you have a handle on what Conclave has to say about religion and progressiveness, the final twist brings with it a much more evocative and thought-provoking situation.
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